Building construction



Nov. 13, 19% E. F. VENZIE 1,980,645

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 14, 1952 I V 'INVENTOR: /6' fibm'o/va A 7vvz/s. I B

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,980,645 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Edmond F venzie, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Frederick M. Venzie, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application June 14, m2, Serial No. 617,073

8 Claims.

This invention, generally stated, relates to a building construction as ceiling, wall, or partitions structures in which plaster-boards, sheet rock, expanded metal or equivalent mediums are employed, and has more especial relation to a structure such as is disclosed in my co-pending application for Letters Patent Serial No. 596,208, filed March 2, 1932. While the structure aforesaid is efiicient for the purposes designed, practice has demonstrated that if the nail points are caused to have interlocking relation with the tubular supporting members a still greater degree of efficiency may be obtained, which may be said to be the leading objectof the present invention.

Another object of' the present invention is to provide a novel form of tubular supporting member in which an internally arranged resilient tongue is provided for cooperatively engaging with the serrated end of a nail when driven home with respect to a panel.

Other and further objects of the present invention reside in the provision of general details of construction and in the arrangement, connection, and combination of parts for attaining the results sought by the foregoing objects.

The invention consists of the'novel construction hereinafter described and finally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation partly sectioned showing the application of a ceiling panel to ya channel iron;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of a ceiling panel as attached to a tubular supporting member embodying the invention; I

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a tubular supporting member;

.Figniisaviewin ing the invention; Fig. 5 is a view, principally in section, illustrating the manner of attaching an expanded metal panel;.

Fig. 6 is a view in cross section illustrating a modified form of construction; and

Fig. 7 is a top or plan view of the unit shown in Fi 6.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention 1 have shown in .the accompanying drawing forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although elevation of a nail embodyit is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 designates a channel iron suspended by means of straps 11 from a supporting structure, as a floor. Arranged beneath the channel iron and at right angles thereto is a tubular metal member or unit 12 which unit is suspended from the channel iron 10 by means of a wire hanger 13. It will be understood that the number of channel irons and tubular units vary in different structures, and but one is disclosed for illustrative purposes.-

A description will now be given of the tubular member or unit 12, best seen in Fig. 3. The unit is formed of thin metal of integral structure and is provided with an internal integral tongue l3-which is relatively resilient. The tongue extends at an inclination from one bottom edge to within a short distance of the top of the unit. A slot 14 is provided throughout the longitudinal extent of the unit upon its bottom. The slot is formed by the curved jaws 15 which incline, toward one another and are relatively resilient and the tongue 13 is bent inwardly from one of said jaws 15. The upper edge16 of the tongue 13 is curled over to form in conjunction with the contracted, narrow and arcuate top 17 of the unit 12 a guide-way to accommodate the serrated point of a nail, best seen in Fig. 4. The nail is integrally formed and consists of a dished head 18 and shank 19 the pointed extremity of which is serrated at 20. Intermediate the point and head the shank is provided with upper and lower shoulders 21 and 22. In practice the shoulders 21 spread apart the spring-jaws 15 of the unit when the nail is being driven home through a plaster-board 23 or the like, see Fig. 2, the other shoulders 22 being embedded in the panel material. In attaching the panel 23 the upper face thereof is caused to abut against the under portions of the curved jaws 15 of a unit and a nail driven through the panel so that the serrated pointed end of the nail after entering slot 14 is caused to pass between the tongue 13 and inner wall of the conduit with the result that the point of the nail impinges against the curved top wall of the unit and is bent around the edge 16 of the tongue, see Fig. 2, so that the serrated portion of the point engages with said edge 16 to form aninterlocking connection. This serves to prevent the nail, due to vibrations or other causes, from becoming loose with consequent sagging of the panel at point of attachment. The tubularmembe'r or unit 12, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 7, is preferably cov eredv or enveloped by a paper covering 35. The

purpose of this paper envelope is to provide =means whereby in installation a relatively noiseless connection of parts is present. The paper envelope 35 in I practice is glued to the member or unit 12.

. In Fig. 5, in lieu of plaster-board a panel 24 of expanded metal is shown. In the case of expanded metal panels which are thinner than plaster-boards the same nail is employed as above described. However, the opposed shoulders 22 seat upon the spring-jaws 15. Also, a thin metal washer 25 is usually employed between the nafl with respect to a panel that the pointed serhead and the under face of the panel.

In Figs. 6 and 7, the unit 12 is similar in all respects to the unit 12 shown in Figs. 1, 2. and 3 with the exception that the dome of the unit is provided with slots 30,.which slots are arranged in staggered relation. According to this construction when a nail is driven between the tongue 13 and an inner wall of the unit 12, the said tongue 13 may guide the serrated pointedend of the nail through an aperture 30 in the dome of the unit. Thus the serrated edge of the nail engages with a slot 30 in the dome of the:

unit 12, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, to interlock the nail with respect to the unit '12' and a panel forming part of the building construction. It may so happen that in driving the nail to place the tongue 13 may guide the serrated edge of the nail through an opposed slot 30 thereby to effect an interlock of parts as is-readily apparent. Obviouslyv the paper envelope 35 readily punctures when a nail passes through a slot '30.

It is thus apparent that in driving a nail home rated edge thereof may pass through one of several slots 30 in the dome of the unit 12, see Fig."

6, or be guided around the upper edge of the tongue 13, as shown in Figs. .1, 2, and 5.

What is claimed is:

, 1. In a building construction, a suitably supported-tubular unit slitted throughout its len th to form opposed spring-jaws, a resilient internal tongue for said unit the upper edge of which is free of the unit top, a panel abutting againstthe slotted face of the unit, and a nail for securing;

v the panel in place, the pointed end of which is in place, the pointed end of which is serrated and passes between said tongue and an inner wall of said unit and having its point bent around the tongue edge for engaging said tongue with its serrated portion, said nail being provided with opposed shoulders for engaging the spring-jaws of the unit.

3. As a. new article of manufacture, a tubularunit of metal having a slot in one face thereof and closed upon its opposite face, said slot extending throughout the entire: length of the unit, and a tongue formed integral with said unit and projected within said unit to within a shortdistance of said closed face.

4. In a building construction, a suitably supported tubular unit slotted throughout its length to form opposed spring-jaws, a resilient internal tongue for said unit the upper edge of which is free of the unit top, a panel abutting against the slotted face of the unit and a nail for securing the panel to place, the pointed end of which is serrated and passesbetween said tongue and an .inner wall of said unit and having its point bent around the tongue edge for engaging said tongue with its serrated portionyand a iibrous covering adhesively secured to and enveloping said tubular unit.

5. As anew article of manufacture, a tubular unitof metal having a slot in one face thereof and closed upon its opposite face, said slot extending throughout the entire length of the unit, a tongue formed integral with said unit and projected within said unit to within ashort distance of said closed face, and a fibrous covering adhesively secured to andenveloping said tubular-unit.

'6. In a building construction, a suitably supported tubular unit slitted throughout its length to form opposed spring-jaws, a resilient internal tongue for said unit the upper edge of which is free oi the unit top, which is slotted, a panel abutting against the slotted face of the unit, and a nail for securing the panel to place, the pointed endof which is serrated and passes between said tongue and an inner wall of said unit and having its serrated point arranged to co-operatively engage the edges of a slot in the dome of said unit.

7. In a building construction, a tubular unitslitted throughout its length to form opposed spring jaws, a resilient tongue within said nnit,

the upper edge of said tongue being free of the unit top, a panel abutting the slotted face of said unit, and a nail securing said panel in place, said nail having a serrated end directed to an interlocking position with said unit by said" tongue:

8. In a building construction, a tubular unit slitted throughout its length to form opposed spring jaws. a panel abutting the slotted face of said unit, a nail passing throughsaid panel and slot and having a serrated end engaging said unit, and a tongue within said unit for directing said nail to the position at which said serrations engage said unit. I

EDMOND F. VENZIE. 

